OUR VIEW: Still time to pack in a staycation, short weekend trip

With sky-high gas prices and summer flying through, it may seem like there’s no time or funds for a vacation.
There remains, however, plenty of time for a staycation, or at the very least, a near-cation.
Long summer days are the perfect time to visit some of Kansas’ lesser and well-known attractions. For active vacationers, we recommend a bike or drive through the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway, near Great Bend. The 77-mile byway is home to the largest inland marshes.
Cyclists will find off-road trails and paved riverside roads. It’s also the perfect way to enjoy a motorcycle ride and visit some of the small, communities along the way.
Locally, there’s plenty to do without straying too far from home.
We recommend a day-long trip to the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. This well-kept secret opened in 2006 in Kansas City, Mo.
There, visitors can gain an understanding of how the first World War was fought, and learn the sequence of events that led to its start. There’s more to know than the shot fired ‘round the world that killed Archduke Ferdinand. Visitors will learn many of the details left out of elementary school civic books by viewing a collection of materials from those on all sides of the battle.
If time and money won’t allow for a even the shortest trip, there’s always the Johnson County Fair in Gardner.
This year’s event kicks-off earlier than normal. It will start on July 27 and culminate with the Johnson County Parade in the morning of Aug. 2 and the Demolition Derby that evening.
Don’t get caught by the summer doldrums. Get out and explore and enjoy the sunshine and the beauty of Kansas and the KC metro.